My First Major Disappointment With Obama

[berni_mccoy]

All of his other appointments to this date I am willing to give the benefit of the doubt on, including Tim Kaine as DNC chair.

However, after Gupta was so soundly shot down by Michael Moore on CNN and Gupta was clearly and, for the record, WRONG (see here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sanjay_Gupta#Michael_Moore_controversy ), I have to say, I'm completely disappointed in Obama with this pick.

Gupta is no doubt a shill for big pharma.

Gupta is clearly a partisan hack.

Gupta is clearly someone who does not thoroughly vet the truth on issues before going on CNN with what he *thinks* is the truth (a failing of many people who have high-level degrees).

Gupta is plainly not fit to be the Surgeon General.

[Critters2]

1. You'll get used to it. I have. nt

[ChairmanAgnostic]

2. you are just jealous.

he lands in Iraq, and promptly does three complex surgeries, saving peoples lives. He disagreed with Moore on some issues, yes, and thinks that Moore is a smug, self-promoting windbag. IN some ways, he is right. Sicko makes some great points, but not all the points were correct and not all conclusions he made could be supported by his facts.

Gupta as Surgeon General will have no input on universal health care. Gupta will be a cheerleader for America on medical issues. For that role, he is perfectly suited.

[dflprincess]

34. But the Surgeon General could decide that the greatest medical issue facing Americans

is the lack of access to care and could indeed become another voice for a single payer system. That is something this corporate run administration will not risk.

[Thrill]

36. The Surgeon General has no policy making input

[dflprincess]

61. I didn't say he did

But the Surgeon General has a voice and a platform and he is expected to speak out on public health issues - if only to educate the public. He is not suppose to be a voice for big pharma or health insurance companies.

[merh]

38. Thank you, you responded better than I could.

I'd recommend your reply if I could.

[musicblind]

62. WTF? "You're Just Jealous" is what teenage girls say when people bitch about the Jonas Brothers.

You may have valid points, but surely you can come up with a valid way of expressing them.

[bitchkitty]

73. Jealous? Are you kidding? n/t

[ChairmanAgnostic]

79. (actually, yes. but sarcasm does not print well)

[Jakes Progress]

81. Actually, all the points were right.

Gupta is the tool of big Medicine and big Pharma. When he was given a chance on Larry King to confront Moore on any errors, he ducked. Even though he and his staff had a day to prepare because Moore had sent over all his evidence.

When will we be tired of having people put in high level, high profile positions that shouldn't be there and have to keep defending the choice on the basis that the person won't really have any input?

[sandnsea]

3. It's not my first major disappointment

But it certainly leaves me scratching my head the most.

[Teaser]

eh, it's surgeon general. might as well be chief dog show officer

for all the impact the position actually has.

[AndyA]

4. I've never liked Gupta.

A long time ago, he made a statement on the air and stated it as a fact, and it didn't sound right to me. So, I checked and he was WRONG. In fact, the source he quoted contradicted his statement! I wrote in and complained, and no correction was ever made.

Gupta has no integrity. I pity his patients. Michael Moore would be a better Surgeon General, even without the medical knowledge. (I hear he's a fast learner.)

[Teaser]

6. Michael Moore would be a shit ass surgeon

and a shit ass surgeon general. and I say this as a fan.

[AndyA]

27. I'm surprised at how often this is required, but...

:sarcasm:

I was being sarcastic. :eyes:

You overlooked the point of the message, and missed the sarcasm.

[Teaser]

74. it's the aspergers

I don't get sarcasm in other people. Although I understand my own, strangely enough.

[olkaz]

29. And as a talented wordsmith.

Brilliant work.

[JayMusgrove]

54. Of course, he is in no way qualified. but who cares, you like him, right? n/t

[Touchdown]

85. Neither is Gupta. He's a TV Celebrity.

Like Doogie Howser, Cliff Huxtable and Bones McCoy.

EDIT: Except those 3 are entertaining.

[JVS]

76. What Gupta did was worse than getting a fact wrong.

What he did was attack someone who was being critical of the status quo over details when he himself was completely lacking details. This is the kind of mind bending assraping of the truth that is worthy of Ronald Reagan or Bush. Disagreement is one thing, but trying to assassinate the credibility of Moore by using lies is despicable, and that's just what he is despicable.

[polichick]

5. Yep - another stinker!

[Teaser]

8. another stinker?

whatever. welcome to ignore.

[polichick]

10. LOL - BIG BABY!!

[BlueStater]

11. Boo hoo. You're putting her on ignore for THAT? n/t

[MADem]

22. She was responding to the ORIGINAL MESSAGE, too--not to the whining guy.

That's what is funniest about it all!!

[Critters2]

49. I so completely love your sig file! nt

[MADem]

53. It's the spit image of a deceased buddy. He lasted twenty one years, and a bit more.

It makes me smile everytime I see it--I never get tired of it!

[MADem]

21. Jesus, aren't you hypersensitive--the poster wasn't TALKING to you.

The stinker comment was directed at the OP. Look at the reply to business to the right of the post.

Keep that overreacting shit up, and you'll be talking to yourself soon.

Go ahead and hit it for me, too, I don't care. You were outta line.

[Jennicut]

7. Does the Surgeon General DO anything, really?

I don't even remember the last one we had! I just remember C. Everett Koop because he did some commercials. Really, I would rather be outraged about something that matters. I think they should do away with the job, really.

[Deja Q]

13. Dr Jocelyn Elders tried to teach people how to masturbate. WWSGD?

:hide:

[MADem]

25. Invite Doctor Ruth to discuss the topic, and then leave to take a phone call!!!

[smalll]

32. But Masturbationgate was a turning-point in history -

if Bill had listened to her advice rather than firing her for it, Al Gore would still be President today!

:hide:

[NYC_SKP]

39. I'm telling you, it's kept me disease free and childless for 51 years...

...except for that night in Bangalore.

[zulchzulu]

14. The Surgeon General doesn't set national policy, but...

...he/she does make suggestions and such on healthcare issues.

Gupta does do some good work on AIDS, obesity and medicine in times of war. I would imagine there aren't too many doctors (he's a neurosurgeon) who make the "big time" that aren't in some way tied to pharma interests.

It's the biz.

[Jennicut]

63. As a dabetic if he speaks out on the crappy food we are offered as Americans I will be happy

I think he did do a program about how America has been forced into eating terrible food filled with corn syrup and other crap. I got type 2 diabetes at 29, at a normal weight. I was pregnant with my second child and had gestational diabetes but was told I was probably pre-diabetes for years. It never went away. I am at a normal BMI and yet still got the diabetes. I think its our diets, its sugar and fat laden and terrible. Fruits and vegetables all the way now, the closer to earth and the less processed the better but check any grocery store and the shelves are piled high with over processed food. I was shocked at it all when I really looked at the labels after I got the diabetes.

[DJ13]

9. Im looking on the bright side

It gets him off my TV!

[dflprincess]

35. If Gupta thinks it through

that alone will make him turn the job down. I don't think he'll like obscurity.

[Political Tiger]

12. I'll need more reason than

a spat with Michael Moore before deciding he's not qualified.

[jesus_of_suburbia]

15. You are in the doghouse after making a post like this!

[berni_mccoy]

43. Woof!

[mvd]

16. I know, but it's just so hard to get disappointed

I wish him tons of good will and am thrilled that Bush will be out and McCain not in.

The good thing about Kaine is that it continues our wide-reaching strategy.

[berni_mccoy]

20. No doubt, McCain would have been a different universe. But I'm still disappointed with this pick.

[mvd]

24. It's actually not my first disappointment

And I actually see some clashes among cabinet members.. but it would be nice if he's not afraid to shape people who don't agree completely to carry out his plans. In every pick, I can see some little good thing that Obama saw.

[berni_mccoy]

31. I'll give you that and I have hope that Obama will do that. However, IMHO, Gupta is not an honest

spokesperson.

[grantcart]

26. The irony of Kaine which you have referred to is that Obama has insisted

that the DNC chairman be a civil rights lawyer-Governor from the South - the only region the Republicans are doing well in. I am sure that the Republicans would have preferred an eastern or California liberal.

It signaled to me that Obama wants to keep marching the party south and leave no area untouched.

[CoffeeCat]

17. Ahhh...Sanjay Gupta...the "scrub stud"....

Muy interesante.

[YOY]

18. Gupta acts like he knows economics.

I want to ask the fucker if I can start writing subscriptions...if he's gonna act like he knows about something my profession deals with it's only fair...

[MADem]

19. Gupta is more fit than a faith healer, or a fellow who opposes choice, or a guy

who thinks that women have reproductive issues due to "angry wombs" or a failure to pray regularly or submit to their husbands.

He'll have to make public any corporate relationships he has, and the Surgeon General's job is more about advising and cheerleading than anything else.

At least he's not going to advocate laying on hands instead of antibiotics.

In what way is Gupta a "partisan hack?" I'm guessing he's a Democrat or an Independent...would that be a Democratic partisan hack?

His job at CNN is to "comment"--I haven't heard him say anything specific about any person. He simply talks about "conditions." If someone is diagnosed with "Disease X" he'll come on TV and talk about the general features of the disease, its general course, and the textbook prognosis. He doesn't "Do a Frist" and diagnose via video. He's pretty careful not to do that.

I don't see what the objection is to the guy. I like him.

He's also a great pick in terms of his TV presence, his communication skills, and he is a wonderful role model to the Southwest Asian community. People with ancestral roots from India on down to Iran and left and right of that line are smiling. Here's a guy who looks like US!

It's a good thing, IMO. Sanjay's not so bad. He could have done much worse.

[Stevenmarc]

42. If TV presence

is a qualification for SG then Dr. Oz is more qualified.

[MADem]

44. Well, maybe so. But TV presence IS an asset to be brought to the table.

So, too, frankly, is race. There's important symbolism in his selection, which might not be terribly apparent to those who aren't southwest asian.

Gupta is a wonderful communicator. He's at ease in front of a camera, and he's energetic and vigorous. People like him.

I think we could do a LOT worse. Obviously, you don't care for him. I think he's a fine pick, but I'm not looking to change your opinion.

[grantcart]

23. Gupta has his good points and the problems that you indicate

(although I am not sure what you mean by 'partisan hack')


What we don't know are the policy objectives that Obama has set forth and that Gupta has agreed to pursue.


I am personally doubtful of Gupta but I have more confidence in Obama asking the right questions and setting the agenda.


There was one point in the reports that supports your OP that you may not have noticed. It was stated that his one concern was financial. Public health workers and administrators don't make the highest dollar in medicine. If this is really his concern then I wonder if he really understands what Public Health (as opposed to medicine) is all about and is ready to be the leader of Public Health Systems in the US.

[berni_mccoy]

30. By partisan hack, I'm referring to the fact that Gupta covered up his "expert's" affiliation with a

GOP think tank. Why would he do that, when he clearly knew he was. (this from the debate with Moore).

If Gupta was above board, he would have no problem saying "So what if he is, he's still an expert." But he didn't do that.

Gupta was more dishonest in his debate with Moore than he claimed Moore was in his film.

[grantcart]

33. well I think that error doesn't qualify him as a "partisan" hack and weakens your overall point.

[berni_mccoy]

47. Gupta was completely dishonest in that debate, pushing clear falsehoods about the film...

It was a partisan attack. And it was propaganda at best, using his title as Dr. to mis-inform at worst.

Sorry, but I can't trust the guy to honestly look out for the nation's best health interests.

[Two Americas]

59. didn't know that

He was affiliated with a right wing think tank? That explains his willingness to repeatedly and knowingly lie in an effort to smear and discredit Moore.

[rvablue]

28. My first disappointment too.......just wish I could know without a shadow of a doubt

that Dr. Dean was asked first and turned it down.

[dflprincess]

37. If only Captain Kangaroo were still alive

he could be made head of the Joint Chiefs.

[FrenchieCat]

40. Well, if that is "the one" to date,

considering its lack of importance in the entire scheme of things, Obama is doing relatively well.

[berni_mccoy]

45. I agree. And being disappointed does not equal major freakout as some suggest.

I'm disappointed yes. I still am happy as hell that Obama is pres. I don't like this particular pick, and I doubt I will appreciate every decision he makes.

[cottonseed]

41. Isn't Gupta what every Surgeon General strives to be anyways?

I always thought it was more of a PR position anyways...

[TheKentuckian]

46. He's straight up corporatist and a whore but partisan hack doesn't compute

I'm not seeing Bill Frist here but maybe I'm missing something.

[AspenRose]

48. OMG it's TRUE????

I thought it was just a joke....yikes :wow:

[Bluebear]

50. PUMA! Obama basher!!!

:sarcasm:

[berni_mccoy]

55. That made me LOL.

[cascadiance]

51. Howard Dean would make a better choice, especially if Obama's listening to *both* sides!

Howard Dean's also got a medical background Barack!

Though part of me thinks Howard Dean will pop up someplace else where he'll be more valuable to us than in at Surgeon General.

[MADem]

56. I am afraid Howard has been sent to bed without his supper, so to speak.

His Fifty State Operation has been dismantled, and the remnants dished out to the state party apparatchiks.

Time's running out for an insider role for Howard. They may find one for him.

If not, I'm guessing he'll end up at a Public Policy think tank. Say, there may be an opening at the Panetta Institute!

[Occam Bandage]

68. It's funny that you say "his operation has been dismantled," when in fact

all that's happened is that the DNC has put a hold on its new spending and ended its current programs in accordance with their pre-determined end dates, all of which is done every single time there is a leadership transition--and Howard Dean said a year before the election that he was going to step down after '08.

Plus, you know, there's absolutely no motive given for Obama deciding, apropos of nothing, to destroy the strategy that he just used a few months ago. But, er, hey, let's just assume he's suddenly turned evil. That's much easier than thinking.

[Solomon]

69. LOL Go Occam!

Love your posts.

[MADem]

82. No. His operation has been dismantled. I am NOT wrong.

The DNC people working the fifty state strategy have been FIRED. They got their last checks at the end of November.

I am not saying Obama is evil. Don't be a sloppy thinker--you have some nerve accusing me of not thinking, when you ascribe "feelings" to me that I don't possess. Obama plainly has another plan in mind. That's fine--he's the boss, now. He is large, in charge, and can follow the strategy that he thinks best.

All I am saying is that Dean is out in the cold. That's pretty fucking obvious to anyone who isn't playing the Happy Glad game and digging for a pony in a pile of crap.

Here, read this stuff, and learn. And stop telling people how they "feel" about things when you've no clue:

http://www.openleft.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=9863

In a follow-up email, I asked the source the following:


Do you think "transition" means a new job, or is it corporate speak for "you're fired?"
The source replied "you're fired." .....People inside the DNC are telling me that the program is not dead. This doesn't surprise me, because it is a popular program and I imagine that many of the remaining staffers at the DNC are committed to the program. At the same time, all of the organizers--who were chosen by local state parties--have been fired. That effectively kills the program, no matter the messaging and commitment of the remaining staffers.

The best bet is that the remaining staff at the DNC will try to push for a continuation of the program once the new administration is in place. In the meantime, many of the large donors who always wanted Dean out and the program terminated seem to have, at least, temporarily received their wish. Although I have no evidence to support this at the current time, I wouldn't be surprised at all if this is connected to Rahm Emanuel becoming Chief of Staff.


I will continue to report on the story as it develops.


Update: I've seen in the comments that many people think Obama is replacing "Deaniacs" with his own people. That is a failure to understand how the fifty-state strategy works. The DNC organizers were all chosen by the local state parties, not by Dean. Now, the idea that you fire a bunch of locally chosen people, and then send "your own" people back to those local areas, is absurd. The new people will be reviled, and unable to function with the local parties. No one is being replaced. The program is being terminated. 200 community organizers just got fired by Obama's campaign. How ironic.



I'll thank you not to shoot the messenger. Or ascribe "motives" or "feelings" to me, in future.

Good luck finding that pony.

[DCBob]

52. If this is your first major then you are in great shape.

I don't think SG is that significant anyway. Not a serious policy position, IMO.

[GB Observer]

57. I would have preferred a more honest person than Gupta, who lied about Moore's film

Character counts in a governmental position, and honesty is at the top of the list.

[berni_mccoy]

60. Honesty and transparency in government are supposed to be at the top of Obama's agenda

That's why this pick rubs me so wrong. Gupta was so clearly wrong and he knew he was wrong. I'm glad Moore destroyed him in the debates of Gupta's "report".

[Phx_Dem]

58. I like Sanjay Gupta.

I saw the CNN show where he debated with Moore, but I don't see how that disqualifies him for any job.

[Divine Discontent]

66. you didn't find him incredibly arrogant, snobbish, and pretentious to a fault?

I can accept that you didn't, I'm just asking - because I found him to come across as someone that couldn't possibly be wrong, and how dare this filmmaker even try and debate him.

[Divine Discontent]

64. first? most of us have at least 2 or 3 now with this one, some have more. welcome to the club. eom

[BlooInBloo]

65. The fucker didn't buy me a pony. What a dick.

[scheming daemons]

72. +10!

[Occam Bandage]

67. I'm pretty sure this has more to do with Gupta's approval of vaccines.

I mean, "the guy once said another guy was wrong, but it turns out he was wrong to say the other guy was wrong" is a pretty damn lame reason. Sounds like you're covering for another one. And, you know, in the last thread, you quickly changed the subject to the fact that he approves of Gardasil vaccines, despite the fact that Gardasil vaccines are the only available 100%-effective preventative treatment for the world's fifth-most-deadly cancer in women. Oh, no, wait, that's "because," not "despite."

[berni_mccoy]

77. Hi, I'm Occam Bandage. All I talk about is vaccines.

[Jakes Progress]

84. Usually find your posts productive

but in this case I disagree. Gupta is a big pharma shill. That's how he got to be on CNN in the first place - quid pro quo for privatized medicine interests.

And though the PR for Gardasil sounds good, it is a very expensive (and profitable) product that has a shaky reputation. First it is not "100%" effective. It is 95%. That sound good until you know that it does not prevent cervical cancer. It is a preventative against two forms of virus that often cause the cancer. They don't always cause cancer. Women can get cervical cancer in many other ways. So it works some of the time on some of the causes for a disease that could be very safely controlled by regular examinations - examinations that would cost much less than the drug and would lack the very drastic side effects that have been reported. In it's first two years, the government has received almost 10,000 complaints about problems that range from minor to death. The company has sought to go around the usual route of having doctors proscribe the medicine in many states. Here in Texas, our Governor Goodhair (the bush and rove picked new village idiot) tried to ram it through the lege that all adolescent girls be required to be vaccinated - at taxpayer expense and a huge profit for Merck. They just bypass the doctors and buy the politicians. This from a governor who said he only had young girl's safety at heart, though his heart has no problem making Texas one of the poorest at enrolling children in the government insurance program. There's a pattern here.

This is exactly the problem with Gupta. He reports what the Phama pamphlets say. Because of his professional demeanor (another thread went on about how "dreamy" he was) the public buys this. After all, he is the respected medical expert for the highly respected CNN. Now he will be the government spokesperson. I don't see the upside to this.

[donco6]

70. That was your first? Humpf.

It's about my fourth.

Oh well. As they say, "He isn't president yet!"

I don't know what they have planned for spin signals after the 20th.

[scheming daemons]

71. YAY! More poutrage! "Obama is not doing everything I want"

:eyes:

[berni_mccoy]

75. No one is allowed to express disappointment with a decision?

[dcindian]

80. yay more post by the internet warrior gang

Way to go!

[samsingh]

78. there is some good news about Gupta

from his Wikipeadia entry:

"From 1997 to 1998, he served as one of fifteen White House Fellows, primarily as an advisor to Hillary Clinton."

and

"Some journalists and journalism professors specializing in health care have criticized Gupta's coverage. Trudy Lieberman, a regular Nation contributor on healthcare and director of the health and medicine reporting program at the CUNY Graduate School of Journalism<5> reviewed Gupta's "ineptitude" in reporting on the McCain health plan. Lieberman criticized Gupta for relying on insurance industry statistics, and a health expert quoted by Lieberman said that Gupta's reporting “gives a gross oversimplification."<6> Gary Schwitzer, professor of health journalism at the University of Minnesota School of Journalism, accused Gupta of "one-sided, pro-screening bias" in his coverage of breast cancer screening. <7>"


All of this makes him more likeable in my opinion. Working with Hillary may mean he's pro-healthcare for all.

[amborin]

83. my 6th disappointment